Point Richmond Minesweeper

Just off of the
pilings of an old shipyard in Colvos Passage lies the
scattered remains of an old wood hulled Minesweeper.
The vessel was most likely salvaged, which the engines,
machinery and propellers removed, and then sank from neglect
after the facility shuttered the windows.

Located 0.9 Nm northwest of Point
Richmond in about 60-65' of water, the bow of the wreck points north and is
easily located with a fish finder between the second and third set of pilings.
The location is fairly current sensitive,
so run a live boat or time your dive around slack water.

If running a live pickup boat, drop in
at 60’ just off of the first north
piling and the current will carry you right to the wreck.
There is a bit of rotting netting
scattered around the stern of the
wreck (South), so be careful and
do carry a sharp dive knife.
The currents in the area bring nutrients to an amazing
variety of creatures that make their home on the
wreck-turned-reef. Nudibranchs, crabs and sea stars
crawl about looking for their next meal.
Rockfish peer out at divers from holes in the wreck while a
forest of anemones feast on the jellyfish that are swept
into their midst. Sculpins of many
varieties hide out amongst the wreckage, including several
of my favorite, the grunt sculpin. So keep a sharp eye
out for that very amusing little fish.

Many artifacts can
still be found buried around the scattered wreckage, making
this a nice site for for new wreck divers wanting to explore
local area wrecks without really getting very deep.
The Anna Foss tug, right across Colvos passage makes a great
second, current free dive, after an exciting current dive on
the Richmond Minesweeper.